An apple tree produces apples. A pear tree produces pears. That is the way it is in nature. This is God’s design. There is another design of God that follows this pattern, even if it is not talked about much in our day. The followers of Jesus are to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” The fruit of repentance that Jesus is talking about is not the “natural” fruit that I produce. I know this because Jesus urges me, in this verse, to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. The Greek word for “repentance” means “to turn around.” From the moment I was born I began living my life in one way, my way, but once I surrendered my life to Jesus I was called to turn around, to begin living in a wholly different way, God’s way. The fruit of my natural inclinations are described in Galatians 5.

19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like… (Galatians 5:19-21 NIV)

I don’t have to work at producing this kind of fruit in my life. I don’t need a tutor to teach me how to hate, to be jealous, or how to perfect the art of selfish ambition. These, as well as all of the other descriptions of the acts of the sinful nature, come as natural to me as the production of oranges for an orange tree. Jesus knows the fruit I produce, fruit that will destroy my life as well as the lives of others–that is why He calls me to repent, to turn around, and begin to live His way.

There is another kind of fruit that is described in Galatians 5. It is fruit, not naturally produced by me or any other person, but fruit produced by the Spirit of God, through a living relationship with Jesus. This fruit is foreign to me apart from living in total dependence on Jesus each day of my life. Paul describes it this way.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)

I’ve noticed another parallel between the production of fruit from trees and the fruit produced through the Spirit in our lives. An pomegranate tree doesn’t produce fruit for its own enjoyment, but it produces fruit for the enjoyment, for the blessing of others. I want my life to be a blessing to others. I want my life to bring glory and honor to God.

My prayer today, Lord, is that You would work in me to produce fruit that will bless others and bring glory and honor to Your name. Lord, let me walk in Your ways and never turn back to my way of doing life.

There are wars going on all over the world at this very minute. Military strategists are mapping out their plans, the enemy is being confronted, lives are being lost, but the hope of victory keeps the soldiers engaged in battle.

There is another war taking place at this very moment. No newspapers are reporting it. It will never make the evening news. It is the war that is taking place inside of every follower of Jesus–a war between the flesh (that which we by nature want to do), and the Spirit (that which God wants us to do).

The same principles that are employed by our leaders in the military are needed in winning the battle that is taking place within the hearts of the followers of Jesus. We need a strategy and it is given right here in Galatians 5. We must live by the Spirit so that we will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. What does it mean to “live by the Spirit?” Well, first of all, we must die to ourselves. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24 NIV) Paul said, 20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NIV) My will, my wants, my desires, my cravings–all of them have to die in order for Christ to live through me, in order for the me to “live by the Spirit.”

I’m learning that this is the first step for me if I want to avoid fulfilling the desires of the flesh. I’m also learning that I don’t have enough resolve to pull this off. I need the Lord’s help every moment of every day. I must tell Him about my weakness, even though He already knows. I must cry out to Him for strength, knowing that He is able to help me. I must avoid those circumstances and situations that I know are a trap, knowing that He has provided a way of escape. I must live with the hope of victory, knowing that I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus my Lord.

My prayer today, Lord, is that You will equip me for the battle that I will face today so that I might live by the Spirit and avoid fulling the desires of my flesh.

Who would have ever thought that out of Paul’s illness a mutual blessing would come about? Evidently, Paul’s illness meant that he had to stay in Galatia longer than he had planned. Instead of pulling the shades and curling up in bed, Paul used his extended stay to share the Good News of Jesus with even more people.

This story from Paul’s life really challenges me to take a long, hard look at myself. There are days when I am up and ready to go. Days when I can’t wait to see what God has store for me. Then there are those other days. Days when I don’t feel so well. Day when I just don’t want to. Days when I would rather clear my schedule, pull the covers up over my head, and isolate myself from the world. This story has stirred a thought in my mind today. I need to consider that God may have, probably does have, something wonderful in store for me if I’m willing to trust Him to use me in my weakness.

We don’t know what Paul’s illness was all about, but we do know that he talked about some problem of his in another one of his letters. When Paul wrote to the folks in Corinth, he asked God three times to remove some “thorn in the flesh,” some challenge from his life. God’s answer to Paul was, 9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul wanted it removed. God wanted Paul to trust Him in his weakness. Paul didn’t pout. He didn’t write an article contemplating how a “good” God could allow suffering. He responded to God’s answer by saying,

9 …Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV)

It seems like most every time something isn’t “right” in my life, I want to use it as an excuse why I can’t do whatever it is that needs to be done. I want that to change. I want to be able to come to grips with the fact that it isn’t ever going to be “right,” but I can trust God to use me to bless His people, share the Good News with others, even though I am weak and broken. In my weakness He is able, more than able, to be my strength.

My prayer today, Lord, is that You will convict me when I want to use my weakness as an excuse. Bombard me with the knowledge that I am not my strength, You are, and always will be.

The discipline of raising children can often be thankless. That is hard for many of us to come to accept. We are so use to receiving relatively instant gratification in most other areas of our life — we do well at work and they give us a raise or praise for a job well done. We do something around the house and our husband or wife takes us out to eat or gives a hug of appreciation. Mom, you prepare a good meal which takes hours to put together and your children say, “Can I have a corn dog instead?” See what I mean?

Parenting is difficult isn’t it? Someone once said, “If it was going to be easy to raise kids, it never would have started with something called labor.” Along with the problem of our children not understanding our efforts and actions, many of us also suffer from feelings of guilt because we feel like we are always “on” our kids—for good reasons I might add, but we still feel guilty. Does it ever seem to you like you are a drill sergeant who barks out orders and is constantly trying to get the troops in line?

Is it any wonder that many parents who’ve begun with the best of intensions have simply thrown up their hands and given up? Mom, if you’ve said, “What’s the use?” or if you are contemplating giving up, I’ve come to encourage you this morning. Your efforts are not in vain. Keep sowing the seeds of faith, keep tilling the seed bed of your children’s heart, keep showering them with love, forgiveness, and discipline, keep teaching your kids about the Lord’s will, integrity, commitment, and character, and God will bless you—even if your kids reject what you are teaching them.

This morning I want to encourage the mothers among us who are struggling. You’ve given your all to teaching your kids about the Lord, you’ve prayed for your children to love the Lord with all of their heart, and yet you do not see the fruit of your prayers and efforts. You are not alone mom. Let me share the stories of some other mothers who could testify that they know how you feel.

First, let me introduce you to a woman, we don’t even know her name, but she was a godly woman, an infertile woman who wanted to have children, but she was childless. In her day, not having children was a huge stigma to bear. In Judges 13 we meet her. Read along with me.

2A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was sterile and remained childless. 3The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, “You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son. 4Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean, 5because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” (Judges 13:2-5 NIV)

A Mother Dreams for Her Son

Can you imagine the joy that she must have felt! She was childless, but then the Lord showed up! Now she could look forward to the day when she would hold her son in her arms. He wouldn’t be just any child in the nursery of the hospital, he would be “set apart” for the Lord from birth. As her pregnancy progressed she must have had all kinds of thoughts about what her son would grow up to be one day. In Judges 13:24-25 we read about his birth.

24The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the LORD blessed him, 25 and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol. (Judges 13:24-25 NIV)

“And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him…” The excitement of Manoah and his wife must have been off the charts! What a life they had to look forward to. Their son was special, he was set apart to the Lord, and he would be a Judge in all of Israel. In the next chapter of Judges we read,

1 Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. 2 When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.” 3 His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.” 4 (His parents did not know that this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.) (Judges 14:1-4 NIV)

A Mind of Their Own

When Samson was a young man he developed a mind of his own. He saw a Philistine girl that he wanted to marry. A PHILISTINE GIRL? His mom and dad could not believe their ears! Samson’s mom and dad tried to talk him out of it. They tried to explain to him why it wasn’t wise. The Philistines were the mortal enemies of the Jews, but Samson wouldn’t listen to his parents. Can any of you relate? You tried to tell your son or daughter that the person they were dating or were talking about marrying was bad news, but they wouldn’t listen to you. You did everything in your power to keep them from the oncoming heartache, but they wouldn’t listen to you.

We have some background information on Samson’s love life—the Lord was at work. I bet that didn’t ease Manoah and his wife’s concern a whole lot. I mean if your son or daughter was in a bad relationship and you heard that the Lord was in it would that ease your concerns? Really?

Samson went on to judge Israel for 20 years and his life was nothing like his mom and dad thought it would be. He had problems with women. In Judges 16:1 we read that he went to Gaza to visit a prostitute. Not the kind of behavior we would expect from somebody set apart for the Lord, huh? Later, he had problems with another woman, a woman we know as Delilah. Bad news once again. Samson’s relationship with Delilah led to his capture by the Philistines.

Samson’s life ended after he had been captured by the Philistines. The Philistines were making sacrifices to their god, Dagon, for delivering Samson into their hands. They were having the party of a lifetime when they brought Samson out to entertain them. They put him between two huge pillars in the temple of Dagon and Samson prayed to the Lord that He would give him the strength to die with the Philistines. Samson pushed the pillars until he brought the house down. The last verse of Judges 16 is so sad as we read,

31Then his brothers and his father’s whole family went down to get him. They brought him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had led Israel twenty years. (Judges 16:31 NIV)

Do you think that the reality of motherhood exceeded the expectations Samson’s mom had when she was rocking her baby boy? I hardly think so. I have a hard time believing that the dreams she had when her son was young met what she experienced after her son grew up and acted so foolishly.

A Mother’s Broken Heart

Let me introduce you to another woman who felt the deep pains of motherhood. Maacah was one of King David’s wives. She was the daughter of a foreign King, the King of Geshur. Geshur was a district of Syria located between Mount Hermon and the Sea of Galilee. When David was King over Judah, before he became King over all of Israel, the King of Geshur, Talmai, gave his daughter, Maacah, to be David’s wife. It was no doubt a political alliance, but Maacah and David had three children together: Absalom, Hanan, and Tamar.

Maacah’s daughter, Tamar, was raped by one of David’s other sons, a boy named Amnon, the daughter of Ahimoam, one of David’s other wives. If you’ve ever had a child who was sexually abused then you know the pain that pierces a parent’s heart in imagining the agony they’ve gone through. If that pain weren’t enough for Maacah she also had to deal with the reality that her husband didn’t do anything about it. We read in 2 Samuel 13:21-22.

21 When King David heard all this, he was furious. 22 Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar. (2 Samuel 13:21-22 NIV)

David was furious, but he didn’t do anything about it. Maacah’s heartache was compounded by her husband’s lack of initiative in righting the wrong done to her daughter. If her husband wouldn’t act, then who would? Maacah’s son, Absalom, was devastated, he was speechless. Read verse 22 with me again.

22 Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar. (2 Samuel 13:22 NIV)

In the next verse we read that two years went by. Two years of the silent treatment. Two years of David not doing anything. Two years of a mother’s heart being broken and a daughter feeling the shame of being raped by her half-brother. The anger in Absalom finally built to a crescendo and he avenged the rape of his sister by killing his brother Amnon.

Tamar’s rape had been avenged, but I’m certain that Maacah didn’t find any consolation in the death of Amnon. Her son had only complicated things, made things worse, if they could have been any worse. The story doesn’t end there though. Absalom flees to his grandfather’s house and his mother’s heart continued to weep for her children.

Are there any moms who can relate? Does your heart ever weep for your children and the decisions they are making in life? I know so many mothers who feel what I am talking about this morning. I had a mother like this in my office. Her son has moved out of her house, there is a breach in their relationship, and the pain is so great that she has taken down his pictures because she can’t bear to look at them. Her only son has brought her such sorrow and she would do anything to change their situation, to see reconciliation take place, but she can’t.

Maacah’s heartache didn’t ease up; it only got worse as her son’s anger consumed him. Absalom set his sights on deposing his own father from the throne. Absalom won the hearts of the people and turned them against his father. In 2 Samuel 15:14 we read,

14 Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin upon us and put the city to the sword.” (2 Samuel 15:14 NIV)

This is his son! His own son is seeking to destroy him! Can you imagine what was going through Maacah’s mind? Later, David’s men set out to capture Absalom and David had told them not to harm Absalom, but they knew the threat he was to his dad so they killed him. We read about David’s deep sorrow in 2 Samuel 18:33 when he finds out that his son is dead.

33 The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you– O Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Samuel 18:33 NIV)

We don’t read about Maacah’s response to her son’s death. At first I thought this was really strange, but after I’ve read the story time and time again I find the silence deafening. I know mothers who love their children with all of their heart. I know moms who have given their all to raise their children right, but their children have made decisions that have broken their heart. I’ve been with mothers who have lost a child and I’ve seen firsthand how they react. I don’t need to read how Maacah responded to Absalom’s death to know how she responded. She was devastated. She never dreamed that her heart could break any worse than it had already been broken, but she found out differently.

Inherent in motherhood is heartache. I’m not just referring to you mothers who have children who have rebelled against you or against the Lord. I’m referring to all mothers. There will be times that your hearts will be broken because of something your child does or because of things that are done to them. I read Luke 2 this past week about when Jesus’ mother and father took Him to the Temple for purification purposes after He had been circumcised. As they approached the Temple there was a godly old man there named Simeon. Read along with me beginning in verse 28.

28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” 33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke 2:28-35 NIV)

Did you hear the last line of Simeon’s praise for the gift God had given? He’s speaking to Mary when he says, “And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” I wonder if Mary thought that was odd? She was holding the promised Messiah in her arms, what could possibly be better than that? How could her soul be pierced with such a wonderful gift lying in her arms? Mary didn’t know that sorrow is part of being a mother.

The Perfect Son and a Mother’s Pierced Soul

Mary didn’t have a rebellious child. Jesus was different than Samson and Absalom. He didn’t have a penchant for women like Samson. He didn’t suffer from anger issues like Absalom. He was God in the flesh. His was the perfect Son. The Son every mother dreams of having, but Mary’s soul would be pierced nonetheless. Have you ever wondered how Mary felt when she learned that Herod was trying to kill her Son? Or how she felt when she learned that all of the little boys around Bethlehem who were 2 and under were killed by Herod because he was trying to get to Jesus?

Was Mary’s soul pierced when she found out that the religious leaders saw her Son as a threat? How did she feel when her Son suffered persecution from the hands of her own neighbors or when her other kids thought that Jesus had lost His mind? Mary was there standing at the foot of the cross when her Son was nailed like a common criminal for crimes He did not commit? Was her soul pierced then? In John 19:25-27 we read about what took place when Jesus was hanging on the cross.

25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:25-27 NIV)

Was Mary’s soul pierced when she heard these words coming from her Son? You better believe her soul was pierced! Mary stands in a long line of moms who’ve had their soul pierced by the pains suffered by their children. From my conversations with moms it doesn’t matter if their child has brought the pain on themselves because of their bad decisions or if they’ve suffered because of other means—their souls grieve and ache over their children. This has been true throughout history mom.

Back in 1897, a mother was worried about her son. Jennie worried about her son because he didn’t seem to have any ambition whatsoever. She worried so much that on February 26, 1897, she sat down and wrote her son a letter. She wrote, “You seem to have no real purpose in life and won’t realize at the age of twenty-two that for a man life means work, and hard work if you mean to succeed.” (Jennie Jerome Churchill (1854-1921), mother of Winston Churchill. Letter, 26 Feb. 1897, to Winston Churchill, published in Ralph G. Martin, Jennie, vol. 2, 1971). Jennie’s fears were later quieted as her son took her advice and worked hard to leave his mark on the annals of history.

Some mothers have their soul pierced because of health issues their children have to deal with in life. One such mother was Mrs. Rudolf. Her daughter, Wilma, was born in Clarksville, Tennessee, and suffered from an illness that left her unable to walk at age 4. Wilma wasn’t able to walk until she was 8 years old, yet she had a mother who nurtured her day-in and day-out. Her mother planted the seed in young Wilma’s mind that she could be anything she wanted to be when she grew up. Well, Wilma did grow up. She became an outstanding basketball player in high school and competed as a sprinter in the 1960 Olympic Games at Rome. Wilma Rudolf not only competed in the 1960 Olympics in Rome, but she won the women’s 100-meter and 200-meter dash and anchored 400-meter relay team which took home the gold medal. For every Wilma Rudolf who overcomes their health issues there are 100,000 kids who never see the victor’s platform. Mothers ache over the health issues of their kids don’t you mom?

For every Winston Churchill or Wilma Rudolf whose parents finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel there are countless parents who still feel like they are living in the darkest night of their life. I want to encourage you this morning to not give up the fight. You keep praying mom. You keep loving your son or daughter. You keep trusting the Lord for their future. God will bless you for your faithfulness. Don’t give up the fight. We have no idea what the future holds for our children, but we know that the Lord loves our kids more than we do and that He alone can turn their hearts around. Don’t give up.

One such mom who never gave up is Ruth. She and her husband were committed Christians, world-renown followers of Jesus, but their son couldn’t care less about spiritual matters. As a matter of fact, their son tended to walk on the wild side instead of walking with God. They continued to pray and love him even though their hearts were broken by their son over and over again. Finally, one day God touched the heart of their son and he renounced his life of rebellion and chose to walk with God. Today Franklin Graham, the son of Billy and Ruth Graham, heads up one of the world’s most compassionate ministries, Samaritan’s Purse, as well as his father’s ministry, the “Billy Graham Evangelistic Ministries.”

Never Give Up!

Mom, you are not just biding your time till your young ones leave the nest, you are preparing God’s ambassadors to touch the world for the Kingdom! What a thought! Never give up, never give up, never give up! Keep caring when nobody cares that you care. Keep loving even when those you love don’t seem to love you. Keep pointing your kids to the King even when they turn away! Leave your kids a legacy of faith which will carry them throughout their life.

There is another side to this sermon which is necessary for all of us to hear before we leave here this morning. For those of us who are still able to bless our mothers, the time is now. Don’t wait until later, don’t wait until they deserve it, don’t wait for anything — bless your mother while you can.

I was at a graduation ceremony at UCO a few years ago when the President of the University gave the commencement address. He talked about how most commencement addresses he’s ever heard weren’t remembered. He spoke about some of the clichés that are offered to graduates and then he said, “I want to urge you to do one thing—call your mom.” He told us that his mom was the driving force behind his pursuit of education and that when he became the President of the University of Central Oklahoma he called his mom to let her know. He called her to say, “Thanks.” Unbeknownst to Dr. Webb, later in the day, his mother would slip into a coma and he would never have the opportunity to talk to her again. Call your mom today. There will come a time when you will no longer be able to call her and thank her for all that she has done for you so call her now. As soon as you leave here call her, or if she lives in town, go by and give her a hug and thank her. Proverbs 23 says,

Make your father and mother happy; give your mother a reason to be glad. (Proverbs 23:25 NCV)

We need to bless our mothers while we can, we need to make them glad because they see the Lord working through our lives, we need to bring joy to their hearts by letting them know that we appreciate the way in which they have blessed us. If you are thinking, “My mother was a loser, she never showed me any love at all,” then bless her because she was God’s instrument to bring you into this world. God used your mother to give you birth, bless her!

What a joy it is to celebrate Mother’s Day. The greatest gift you can give your mother on this day is to bless her in the name of our Lord. Rise up and call her blessed all the days of her life!

Mike Hays
Britton Christian Church
922 NW 91st
Oklahoma City, OK. 73114
May 13, 2012
bccpreacherman@aol.com

We live in a world full of heartache and sorrow. As I read this verse this morning my mind was flooded with painful images of just the past few weeks. The people of Japan are not showing up on the evening news any longer, but their sorrow is ongoing one year after a devastating tsunami. Tornadoes continue to plow through communities wreaking havoc along the way. Flooding and wild fires alter life for those who find themselves in their path.

The burden of having to deal with natural disasters is widespread, but even more widespread is the heartache that comes from daily life. A marriage begins to fall apart and hearts are ripped to shreds. A teenager commits suicide and a mom and dad never recover. The loss of a job throws a family into panic. A young mother is told she only has a few months to live. All of these scenarios are real, devastating real, and they are experienced by people each and every day.

The heartaches I’ve described are real, but they are not new. They were around in Jesus’ day. He carried the burdens of the broken hearted. He healed the blind man. He traveled across the Sea of Galilee just to bring peace to a man tormented by demons. He rescued a woman caught in adultery. He calls us to do the same. Jesus told His followers.

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35 NIV)

Jesus didn’t say that the world would know that we belong to Him if we build big buildings, possess the latest technology to mesmerize those who gather for worship, or have name recognition in the community. He said they will know we belong to Him if we love one another. Is there is better expression of love than to carry the burden of someone who is hurting? Strengthen our backs Lord.

My prayer today, Lord, is that You will give me eyes to see the burdens of others and fill me with Your compassion so that I might help shoulder their load.

The fourth chapter of Galatians was written by Paul to the folks in Galatia to remind them that God, through His Son Jesus, has freed them, and us, from the shackles of sin’s slavery and made them His very own. Now that is something to celebrate on a Wednesday morning.

As I was thinking about what Paul has written, one phrase caught my eye–“But now that you know God–or rather are known by God…” I can remember in times past telling people that “when I accepted Jesus” or “when I found Jesus” my life began to change. I don’t use phrases like that any longer. There are two reasons why: First of all, it wasn’t Jesus who was lost and needed to be found. I was lost. I was wandering aimlessly through life trying to find my way. I was the one trying to do right (some of the time at least), but still ended up doing wrong. Secondly, I learned from God’s Word that God knew me long before I ever knew Him.

“To be known by God.” Ponder that for a moment. The longer I meditate on that thought the more I am overwhelmed and humbled by the glorious love of God. If I was standing in a crowd with my friends at a Thunder game and Kevin Durant walked up and hugged me as he said, “Hi Mike. How are you doing?” My friends would go nuts. They would say, “You know Kevin Durant? How do you know him?” Well, I don’t know Kevin Durant and neither does he know me, but I know that we tend to take great pride in the fact that somebody famous, someone seemingly larger than life knows us. I’ve heard that Kevin is a great guy, but I don’t know Kevin. Even thought I don’t know Kevin or anyone else who is famous for that matter, I am known by One much greater than Kevin. God knows my name. He loves me with an everlasting love. He strengthens me with His grace and mercy each minute of every day. He has promised to go with me into this day. Before I ever gave God a thought–He knew me. What an amazingly humbling thought! Why would I ever long to know any one else?

My prayer today, Lord, is that I would remember that You knew me before I ever breathed my first breath. You have been with me, and are with me, as I go into this day.

For those of you who are struggling, trying to find an answer to the struggles you are going through in life, you need to know that it is not over. God’s answer is before you just as it was before Nick, “Will you trust me?” I pray you will. I also hope you will watch Nick’s amazing testimony and that the Lord will use it to speak to your heart.

I can remember being young and thinking that I was independent, even though I still lived at home and totally dependent on my parents for the basic necessities of life. There were times that I would encounter a problem of some kind and would get so frustrated trying to figure it out. My mom or dad would become aware of what was going on and say, “Hey, let me help you out.” I didn’t need their help so I would continue to work and work to try to solve the problem by myself. There were a few times I figured things out on my own, but most of the time I ended up going back to my mom or dad and asking them for help. What took them only a few minutes to figure out would have eventually caused me to lose my mind if I wouldn’t have eventually come to the end of my independence.

In the Scripture I’ve been reading this morning I see the same kind of scenario at work. God calls us to be holy just as He is holy, yet we are born sinners, and sinning comes naturally to us. For those who love God and want to do right by God we oftentimes set out to live a “good,” moral life. We can start by trying to live out the Ten Commandments. You know the ones, “You shall not have any gods before Me. You shall not worship false idols. Honor your mother and father. You shall not steal or kill or commit adultery, etc.” In seeking to be “good” I can use the Ten Commandments as check list. I worship God. Check. I love my mom and dad. Check. I don’t steal, have never killed anyone, and have not committed adultery. Check. Check. And check again. I can conclude, “I’m not perfect, but I’m doing pretty good so far.” Jesus comes along and redefines the Ten Commandments. He says,

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca, ‘ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Matthew 5:21-22 NIV)

Wow! You’ve got to be kidding right? Wrong. The Law shows me that I can’t do it on my own. I will never be able to do it on my own. The bar is too high and I am too…sinful. God says, “Exactly. Now you are ready to receive the gift I’ve provided for you through the perfect sinless life of my Son who gave Himself for you so that His righteousness might live and work through you.” The bad news of my sinfulness and inability to maintain any semblance of “goodness” is the Good News that God loves me so much that He has fulfilled every thing I lack through Jesus. I can forgo my ambitious drive to be “good” and instead be His. When I trust in His work in my life then I see more of His ways begin to surface. Praise God for the Law because God has used the Law to teach me about my incredible need for Him.

My prayer today, Lord, is that I will seek You throughout the day rather than seeking to be “better” than those around me, that I will recognize Your righteousness at work in my life, and that I will rest in Your perfect provision rather than my imperfect attempts at “goodness.”

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3 NIV)

I mentioned to you that we’ve been taking a look at all that God has done for us, but I want to take a minute to refresh your memory. First of all, God has chosen us. In the opening verses of Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus we read,

4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. (Ephesians 1:4 NIV)

God chose you. In the very next verse Paul tells us that God adopted us as His very own. Those are powerful statements aren’t they? The Bible clearly teaches that we are tainted through and through by sin. We are born spiritually dead as a result of our sin nature. There is nothing within any of us that would attract God’s attention. This leads to the second great truth we have learned from Paul’s letter: God’s love for us led Him to act on our behalf. In Ephesians 2:4-5 we read.

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV)

“But because of his great love for us…” I don’t know if there are any more beautiful words that I have ever heard in my life. Because God loves me, because He loves you, God acted on our behalf—He made us alive.

The third truth that we must constantly remember is this: God is at work in our lives. God not only saved us. He not only made us alive. We are His workmanship. We are the ongoing product of the Sovereign God’s hand. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:10.

10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

God’s work is not without purpose. He has given us life. He is continuing His work within us in order that we might do His work in this broken world overflowing with alienation, strife, and sin.

There are many more truths that we have learned in the first three chapters of Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, but these three truths that I have shared with you are more than enough to remind us of our position in Christ. Now that we know what God has done on our behalf it is time to move forward.

“There is more at stake than we can even begin to imagine.” I’m not referring to the players on the Oklahoma City Thunder contemplating the importance of each and every game ahead of them as they press on to try and win the World Championship. I’m not thinking about the thoughts of the members of the Board for the Chesapeake Energy Corporation as they try and navigate these uncertain times for their company. I’m not highlighting the anxiety of many high school kids preparing to take the ACT test in hopes of scoring high enough to get into their dream college. What I am thinking about, and what I have been thinking about all week, is you and me and our relationship with the unbelieving world around us. “There is more at stake than we can even begin to imagine.”

We who are called “Christ’s ambassadors,” we who are told that God is making His appeal to the lost through us, we desperately need to understand God’s call on our lives and then seek with every ounce of our being to live out that call in a worthy manner. Paul wrote to the folks in Corinth and expressed this same line of thought to them. Turn with me to 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 and let’s read together.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20 NIV)

If we are “in Christ” then the old has gone and the new has come. Our life is not our own any more. We are called to be Christ’s ambassadors. We are called to be His mouthpiece. We are called to be His hands and His feet. We are called to let His light shine in this dark world. We are called to go into all the world and make disciples. We are called to appeal to those who do not know Jesus to come to Jesus. There is more at stake than we can even imagine.

At the beginning of Ephesians 4, Paul writes, “…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” If we fail to recognize the seriousness of this call, if we fail to realize the all encompassing nature of this call, then we will do great damage to the cause of Christ. Brennan Manning once said,

The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable. (Brennan Manning)

Those are words that each of us should hide in our hearts. They are not merely a catchy sound bite, but they are a reflection of what Scripture teaches. Let me give you a couple of examples of what I am talking about. In 2 Samuel 12, after David committed adultery with Bathsheba, had her husband Uriah killed, and then made himself out to be some kind of noble king by taking her into his own home, God called David on the carpet. The prophet Nathan pointed a long finger at David and let him know that God was on to his scheme. Then, in verse 14, we read,

14 But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.” (2 Samuel 12:14 NIV)

David’s sin caused those who did not know God to show utter contempt for God. When they heard of the sin of the man who was called a “man after God’s own heart,” they mocked God. How many times has the sin of some well-known Christian been made public and the late night TV talk show hosts and skeptical media personalities follow with a barrage of jokes and contemptuous commentary?

Let’s take a look at one more example. In Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, he wrote these words,

21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Romans 2:21-24 NIV)

We really don’t need to go back to the days of King David or the Apostle Paul to know that unbelievers mock the name of God because of the failure of His people to live out what we believe do we? There are far too many present day examples of this truth. As a matter of fact, all we have to do is look in the mirror to know that we do not rightly reflect who God is through the way we live our lives.

We are called to live a life worthy of the calling of the Lord. It is important for us to understand this word, “worthy,” because I don’t want any of us to be led to believe that we are “worthy” of what God has done on our behalf. There is not one of us who has “earned” our salvation because we’ve been such a great person. God has acted on our behalf, not because we were worthy of His actions. The Greek word, “ἀξίως” (axios), means, “bringing into balance” or “equivalent.” A great visual of this definition is found in Romans 8:18. Take a look with me.

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 NIV)

You can understand that can’t you? If placed on a set of scales our present trials and tribulations do not even come close to equaling the glory that awaits all of those who are trusting in Jesus. Another great example would be the travails of a mother going through the process of having a baby. The pain is enormous, but once the doctor lays that precious little boy or girl in her arms the joy of her holding her baby far outweighs the pain of the birth process. Can I get an “Amen” mommas?!

So, you can see that we are not talking about being worthy of God’s many blessings. We are talking about responding to God’s many blessing by living a life that reflects what He has done. Another place where this Greek word is used is in Matthew 3:8. Turn there with me. John the Baptist was baptizing folks in the Jordan River when he said to the Sadducees and Pharisees, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Matthew 3:8 NIV) The word, “worthy,” isn’t found in the NIV translation. The Greek word we are taking a look at is translated with the phrase, “in keeping with.” The New Living Translation gives us a better understanding of what John was saying.

8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. (Matthew 3:8 NLT)

Over and over again in Paul’s letters he encourages the followers of Jesus to live lives worthy of their calling. I am convinced that until we really realize what God has done on our behalf this simply will not happen. “Self” is so rooted in our DNA. “Self” is so secured on the throne of our hearts. “Self” has such an overwhelming pull on our souls that we will continue to follow “self” instead of following Jesus whenever we lose sight of what God has done on our behalf. We must be reminded over and over again; we need to encourage one another to walk worthy of God’s calling on our lives. While Paul sat in a prison cell he encouraged the people in Philippi with these words.

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ… (Philippians 1:27a NIV)

“Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…” While still in prison Paul found the time to write a letter to the people in Colosse. What was on his mind? Let me read it to you.

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: (Colossians 1:9-10 NIV)

Paul says, “I’m praying for you in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and that you might please him in every way.”

When Paul sat down to write a letter to his friends in Thessalonica he reminded them of how he lived when he was with them. How long was he in Thessalonica? We don’t have an answer to that question. In Acts 17 we can learn about some of the details of Paul’s stay in Thessalonica. There were many who came to know Jesus and there were others who were jealous and stirred up an angry mob. They dragged Paul’s host before the city officials, they slandered his name, and they wanted to kill Paul. What was his demeanor? What was his attitude? How did he conduct his affairs? When Paul wrote his first letter to the folks in Thessalonica he reminded them of how he lived through all of the experiences, both joyous and horrific. Turn to 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 with me.

10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 NIV)

Did Paul seek justice? Did he seek vengeance? Did he become frantic and frazzled when he learned that he had stirred up the hatred of those who opposed him? No, he sought to walk worthy of the calling of the Lord on his life. He sought to have his life reflect the character of God as he was confronted with all kinds of opposition in life. He sought to set an example for the other believers so they might desire to walk worthy of the calling of God on their lives.

Paul’s desire to walk in a manner that was worthy of what God had done in his life was a consuming passion. Paul wanted his life to reflect all that God had done in his life to the people of Thessalonica and in every place where he traveled. When Paul wrote to the people in Corinth he urged them, 1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV)

We have been inundated with high profile people letting the world know that they are not “role models.” Charles Barkley started it back in 1993 when he filmed the famous Nike commercial. Charles said, “I am not a role model. I’m not paid to be a role model. I’m paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court. Parents should be role models. Just because I dunk a basketball, doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.” Cher, who is going on 70, still hasn’t figured it out. She said, “I’m not a role model, nor have I ever tried to be a role model.” And the beat goes on…Lil Wayne, Brittany Spears, Rihanna, and good ‘ol Snooki have all made it clear that they aren’t role models. They may not be role models, but we are called to model the grace, mercy, and love of God before those who do not know Jesus. Our lives should so reflect the Father’s heart that others are drawn to him.

Paul was not the only follower of Jesus who possessed this passion. Simon Peter was as human of a follower of Jesus as there ever was. He was prone to stick his foot in his mouth. He denied that he ever knew Jesus in Jesus’ greatest time of need. He was called out by Paul for being a hypocrite at Antioch. Yet, Peter was passionate about following Jesus. He messed up, but he never gave up. He kept getting up, being lifted up, and seeking to walk in Jesus’ steps. In 1 Peter 2:19-21, Peter wrote to the followers of Jesus about suffering. He wrote,

19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:19-21 NIV)

“Following in his steps” is seeking to live a life that is worthy of the calling of God. When we suffer injustice how do we respond? When we are treated unfairly how do we respond? When things don’t go our way how do we respond? Do we respond in a way that reflects the way that Jesus responded when He was mistreated or does our response reflect the way that 99% of the world responds?

Here is the question that each of us must answer: “In light of all that God has done for me, how now should I live?” I can’t answer that question for you, but I’ve given it much thought this week and here is my answer. “I should live in a way that reflects the gratitude I feel for what God has done for me.” “And why should I seek to live such a life?” Two reasons: “First of all, I am grateful and I want God to know that what He has done for me was not in vain. Jesus dying for me has caused a great change in me. Secondly, there are many still out there who do not know Jesus and I understand Scripture to teach that God’s plan is to use me to draw them to Himself.”

I believe that when Paul wrote to Titus he had the same thing in mind. In Titus 2, Paul writes, 1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. (Titus 2:1 NIV) Immediately following this statement Paul begins to list groups of people and how they should live. Paul lists “older men and women.” Concerning the older men, Paul tells them to be “temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.” (Titus 2:2 NIV) Concerning the “older women,” Paul says that they should “be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.” He goes on to say, “Then they can train the younger women…” I won’t go through the whole list of folks that Paul addresses, but it includes “younger men and women” and “slaves.”

In verses 7-8, Paul calls Titus to be a role model. He tells him to “set them an example.” That’s what it means to be a role model isn’t it? To set a good example for others. Listen to what Paul wrote to Titus.

7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. (Titus 2:7-8 NIV)

The last group of folks that Paul addresses are “slaves.” We could substitute the word, “employee,” for the word “slave” and it would fit just fine. Paul tells Titus,

9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. (Titus 2:9-10 NIV)

Why did Paul give Titus these instructions for all of these groups of people? I think the answer to that question is found in verse 10 where we read, “…so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” This is our call. We are called to live a life worthy of our calling so that the truths we say we believe are lived out in our daily life and as a result others will be drawn to the Christ who is at work in us.

Isn’t that how some of you came to know Jesus as Lord of your life? It is definitely my story. It was another young guy who loved Jesus so much that he chose to live his life for the glory of God that caught my attention. We worked out together. We hung out together. Through the time we spent together I recognized that there was something different about my friend. The difference was Jesus. That summer spent with my friend changed my life. It was that summer that I knew I needed Jesus in my life. I didn’t want to be a “church member,” I wanted to live like my friend John lived. I was following John as he followed Jesus. He taught me how to pray as I listened to him pray. He taught me how to read the Bible as I listened to him read the Bible. He told me that he wanted to live his life for the Lord because of all that the Lord had done for him. He taught me that there is nothing in life as important as living for the glory of God. Now, today, I want to do the same for others. I want to invite you to begin to follow Jesus this very moment.

Mike Hays
Britton Christian Church
922 NW 91st
OKC, OK. 73114
May 6, 2012

The irony of the Christian life is that it is a complete contradiction of the obvious. The obvious says, “We are given life at birth and then, some time after that, we die.” The Bible clearly teaches that we are “dead” at birth and only God can make us “alive.” The Bible teaches we are dead to the things of God, dead to the will of God, and dead in our sins. Only by the saving grace of God can we, who are born dead, be made alive in Christ. (Colossians 2:13) When God gives us new life, through His Son, we become alive to the things of God and the will of God.

Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” When we die to ourselves we put to death our will, our wants, our plans, and our hopes and dreams for the future. Christ lives in us and therefore it is His will, His wants, and His plans that are to direct our every thought and action. This is God’s purpose and plan for every believer. As I survey my life, the past week of my life, I see that there is still a lot of me that is still alive. My wants and wishes are still very much alive. God’s will and purpose for my life is so often discarded as I pursue what I want for my life. This troubles me today.

I must crucify my flesh, die to myself, each and every day, throughout the day, if I am ever going to become the man God has called me to be. I want to live out God’s plan for my life, but my plans so often get in the way. I believe that the key to my growth today is to spend more time thinking about the fact that Jesus has loved me and given himself for me and less time thinking about what I want to happen in my life. As if “my life” is mine anyway.

My prayer today, Lord, is that this Scripture will reverberate throughout my heart and mind throughout today so that, by Your grace, I might live this day with only Your will and plan in mind.